FADU, a fabless SSD controller designer based in Seoul, has introduced FS-SSD technology. This solution integrates the file system directly into the SSD's flash, allowing the drive to handle path lookup, access control, and file-to-flash mapping. By doing so, the technology bypasses host CPUs, which typically consume about 30% of cycles during random-read workloads.
Internal tests using the FC6161 Gen6 controller on a PCIe 5.0 host showed the drive maintaining 460,000 ops/s, even when the server load was reduced from 16 cores to one. The system utilizes the NFSv3 protocol, which FADU selected for its stateless nature and low firmware overhead. The company reports a 63% reduction in write amplification compared to host-based F2FS solutions.
The architecture allows for host-free access, enabling GPUs or SmartNICs to send commands directly to the drive's submission queue. FADU claims this approach leads to 42% lower power consumption and 57% lower costs per 16-drive server compared to traditional setups. The company plans to provide partner samples in Q3 2027, with Gen6-host results expected by Q1 2027.
FADU is currently in early-stage discussions with OEMs and ODMs. The company intends to propose a file-semantic command set to NVM Express and OCP Storage. While the current prototype relies on software emulation, the firm is working toward a JBoF reference design that eliminates the need for a front-end server.
